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This study examined the clinical effects of Korean medicine therapy in a patient with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with chemotherapy. A 53-year-old male patient suffering from hypopharyngeal cancer was treated with docetaxel as well as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Tumor size was measured by computed tomography (CT) and adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0. After two months of combined treatment, the size of the tumor mass was reduced at the left side of the neck, posterior to the CCA and at the lymph node in the left retropharyngeal area and medial aspect of the carotid sheath. The adverse events of chemotherapy also improved. This study indicates that Korean medicine therapy, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, may lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and may be effective in the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Objectives: This study examined the case of a patient with recurrent salivary duct carcinoma and hepatic metastasis.Methods: The patient was treated with Casodex/Nolvadex from January 25th 2021 onward with doses of bicalutamide (150 mg/day) and tamoxifen (10 mg/day) every four weeks. Simultaneously, the patient was treated with Korean medicine. The tumor size was measured using computed tomography (CT). Adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), version 5.0.Results: Following the four-month treatment, the extent of the proximal portion of hepatic metastasis decreased, and discomfort and physical activity gradually improved.Conclusions: The results suggest that combined chemotherapy and Korean medicine may help to reduce tumor size and improve quality of life.

Objectives: This study examined the case of a patient with ROS1-positive recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer treated with crizotinib and traditional Korean medicine.Methods: The patient was treated with crizotinib from January 20 2021 to May 22 2021, together with Haedogyangpye-tang and Haengso-tang. The tumor size was measured using computed tomography (CT), and adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0.Results: After four months of combined treatment, the sizes of the lymph nodes in the porta hepatis, hepatoduodenal, retrocrural, aortocaval, and para-aortic areas had decreased, and no lymph nodes larger than 1 cm in diameter were observed. The side effects of chemotherapy also improved.Conclusions: This case study suggests that traditional Korean medicine may alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy, improve quality of life, and complement chemotherapy itself.